Companies team up to donate computers to military families

Published: Friday, May 17, 2013 at 09:10 PM.

Lenovo, a computer technology company with offices in Research Triangle Park, and the Kramden Institute, a nonprofit group based in Durham, teamed up to give away the 75 computers.

Kramden volunteers took the old computers and refurbished them, making them available to the students. Many of the Kramden volunteers are employed with Lenovo, which also donated some of the computers as well as the monitors that were given away to the students on Saturday.

This is the third time Kramden and Lenovo have teamed up for a giveaway to support military families. Last year, computer giveaways were held at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro and Fort Bragg Army Base in Fayetteville.

“We are absolutely thrilled that MCAS Cherry Point was the chosen installation for this computer giveaway,” said Donna Bagley, Cherry Point’s schools liaison officer. “This will make such a huge difference in these children’s lives. Being able to use a computer to do their homework or research can only help them to be more successful in their academic career.”

HAVELOCK — In today’s high-tech world, students rely on computers as part of their education.

On May 11, 75 students in military families at Cherry Point air station received their very own computers as part of a giveaway from Kramden Institute and Lenovo.

But, not everything is going to be about education.

“He and his dad play a lot of online games together,” Bonnie Nethercutt said of her husband Gunnery Sgt. James Crudden and son Dustin, 11.

Dustin stared at the screen and listened intently as he received instructions on the use of the computer.

“I like it,” he said. “My dad has one, but I don’t get to use it.”

Nethercutt said the work computer is off limits to the children, but that the new one will come in handy.

“I think this is wonderful,” she said of receiving the computer. “It’s going to help him with his homework and with his reports.”

DeAyra Fisher stood by as her daughters, Isidre DeJesus, 11, and Isiluah DeJesus, 5, received information on their new computer.

“I think it’s awesome,” she said of receiving the free computer. “It’s a great program they’re doing for the military families.”

Fisher said her 11-year-old daughter would make great use of the computer.

“It’s going to be great for her to do her homework on her own, and she’ll be able to communicate with her friends,” she said. “And, she’ll stay off of mine.”

Fisher said the family used to go to the library to use computers.

“This will make it a lot easier for her to do her homework, and we won’t have to get in the car and drive,” she said.

Lenovo, a computer technology company with offices in Research Triangle Park, and the Kramden Institute, a nonprofit group based in Durham, teamed up to give away the 75 computers.

Kramden volunteers took the old computers and refurbished them, making them available to the students. Many of the Kramden volunteers are employed with Lenovo, which also donated some of the computers as well as the monitors that were given away to the students on Saturday.

This is the third time Kramden and Lenovo have teamed up for a giveaway to support military families. Last year, computer giveaways were held at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro and Fort Bragg Army Base in Fayetteville.

“We are absolutely thrilled that MCAS Cherry Point was the chosen installation for this computer giveaway,” said Donna Bagley, Cherry Point’s schools liaison officer. “This will make such a huge difference in these children’s lives. Being able to use a computer to do their homework or research can only help them to be more successful in their academic career.”